One day I was praying for Judy and Lyle, (not their real names), a couple whose marriage is beyond fragile. One thing I prayed was that God would give grace for forgiveness. I asked God to give both Judy and the children the grace to forgive Lyle for his mistakes, which are many. His choices have led the family to financial ruin.  As a result of the chaos of their situation, Judy has placed a “protective” shield of pride and control around her heart. I prayed that God would give Lyle the grace to forgive rather than develop a hard heart of his own.

Even as I prayed, the Lord gave me a picture in my mind of the word FORGIVENESS written on a banner and placed over their home. Then it became, “Forgiveness Happens Here”.

What an amazing home to live in, where all who enter are reminded that inside is a place where they are embraced, loved, accepted, and forgiven! A declaration that “Forgiveness Happens Here” carries with it a freeing, comforting assurance of unconditional love. I believe that brings protection from Satan’s attempts to divide families. The choice to cultivate a forgiving heart thwarts Satan’s attempts to make hurting people want to flee rather than work through difficulties or humbly confess sin. 

A forgiving heart is a humble heart. It takes both humility and vulnerability to extend genuine forgiveness. Of course, the opposite of humility is pride. The hurt someone has caused me can easily become fertile ground for a vine of pride to grow, wrapping itself tightly around my heart. Yet even as my pride creates this protective shield from future hurt, it also prevents the love of both God and others to fully enter, making healing from my hurt an impossible dream. 

When Jesus told the parable of the prodigal and his father, he was teaching about both repentance and forgiveness. When do you suppose the father forgave his prodigal son? I believe forgiveness began even as he handed the son his inheritance, and it continued day after day as he anticipated catching a glimpse of his returning boy. Had he not already forgiven his son, would he have been waiting on the hillside, watching for his son’s return? I think not! I believe he would have instead been inside, “moving on” with his life. Though pride could have kept that father’s heart at “arms distance”, instead humility prodded his heart to extend grace. And then, when the son finally did come to his senses and return, his father was more than ready to lavish him with acceptance. Had he not forgiven days, weeks, months, and even years ahead of that day, what would his reaction have been? Possibly an embrace, but maybe with some “I told you so!” or “Look what you’ve done to me!” or “You can have the barn!” attached to that embrace. It was only because he had already worked through the disappointment and chosen to forgive that he was able to unreservedly embrace and restore his prodigal son, “no strings attached.” 

Though not a banner that anyone could actually see, I believe forever after that household lived under a banner that declared to themselves and the world, “Forgiveness Happens Here”!

I want that banner over my front door, don’t you?